Simenc and Hoogerland fastest at the 9th annual Istria Gran Fondo 

The ninth edition of the Istria Gran Fondo took place Saturday 15 April in Croatia, the biggest Croatian Gran Fondo on the northern Istria peninsula for over 10 years

There was a 22.3km time trial on Friday and a Granfondo on Saturday, riders have the choice between a 119km course as qualifier for the men up to the age of 60 and women up to the age of 50 and a shorter 93km Mediofondo as qualifier for the older age categories.

Previous UCI Gran Fondo World Champions Johnny Hoogerland and Laura Simenc took overall victory.

Over 650 amateur cyclists participated, and the event allows competitors finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place next August in Scotland.

Former Tour de France racer and UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Johnny Hoogerland (RH77 Factory Team) of Austria won the men’s gran fondo, finishing in 3h 3m 9s, nine seconds ahead of Slovinian Matic Zumer and over two minutes ahead of Czech Michal Kollert in third place.

In the women's race Slovenian Laura Simenc (De Rosa Santini), 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion, was fastest finishing in 3h 20m 10s, with Angelika Tazreiter of Austria second and Petra Slovar of Slovinia third.

Italian Andrea Chiminello won the mens Medio Fondo in a time of 2h 23m 34s and Michela Gorini won the womens Medio Fondo in a time of 2h 40m 4s.

Italian Diego Venturi the fastest man in the time trial 25m 30s an average speed of 52.44 kph and Laura Simenc was the fastest women in a time of 28m 30s.

Click here for the full 2023 UCI Istria Gran Fondo Results.